Hosta plant named &#39;forest fire&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hosta  named ‘Forest Fire’, a sport of  Hosta  ‘Sagae’, that is characterized by its variegated foliage having cordate-shaped leaves with glaucous green centers and margins that emerge yellow-green and turn creamy white as the leaf matures. A combination of new leaves and mature leaves results in a two-toned effect. The margins of ‘Forest Fire’ comprise about one fourth of the leaf area. ‘Forest Fire’ is a medium-large sized  Hosta  with an upright, mounded habit, and pale lavender flowers that are held above the foliage in mid summer.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Hosta hybrida

CULTIVAR DESIGNATION

‘Forest Fire’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, Hosta ‘Forest Fire’, relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hosta, botanically known as a Hosta hybrida, hereinafter referred to as ‘Forest Fire’.

The inventors discovered the new cultivar-, ‘Forest Fire’, in 2000 in a cultivated growing area of a nursery in Tennessee. ‘Forest Fire’ originated as a naturally occurring sport of Hosta ‘Sagae’ (unpatented).

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished under the direction of the inventors utilizing in vitro propagation in The Netherlands in 2003. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by division and tissue culture has shown that the unique features of ‘Forest Fire’ are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in trials in Michigan for a period of five years and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Forest Fire’ as a new and unique cultivar of Hosta.

-   -   1. The foliage of ‘Forest Fire’ is variegated with glaucous         green centers and yellow-green margins that turn creamy white         with maturity. The margins of ‘Forest Fire’ comprise about one         fourth of the leaf area. New leaves of ‘Forest Fire’ emerge         throughout the growing season with yellow-green margins         combining with the mature foliage to give the overall plant a         two-toned effect.     -   2. The leaves of ‘Forest Fire’ are cordate in shape with a         variegation pattern in which the centers are feathered into the         margin. An intermediate colored area exists that is also         feathered into the margin.     -   3. ‘Forest Fire’ reaches a height of about 50 cm, exclusive of         flower scapes, and a spread of about 50 cm in four years.     -   4. ‘Forest Fire’ blooms in mid summer with pale lavender flowers         on scapes that arise above the foliage.

In comparison to the parent plant, ‘Sagae’, ‘Forest Fire’ has leaves with wider margins, leaves that are more cordate in shape, and the plant size of ‘Forest Fire’ is smaller in height and spread.

The closest comparison plant is Hosta ‘Liberty’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,531). In comparison, ‘Forest Fire’ has margins that are not as wide as ‘Liberty’ and the plant size of ‘Forest Fire’ is smaller in height and spread. The margins of ‘Forest Fire’ comprise about one fourth of the leaf whereas the margins of ‘Liberty’ comprise about one third of the leaf area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Hosta. The photographs were taken in June of mature plants of ‘Forest Fire’ and ‘Sagae’ as grown outdoors in light shade for a period of five years.

FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the foliage and plant habit of the new cultivar, ‘Forest Fire’.

FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Forest Fire’ and shows both newly emerged leaves and mature leaves.

FIG. 3 provides a comparison between a leaf of ‘Sagae’ (shown on left) and ‘Forest Fire’ (shown on right). The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized and combined with the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Hosta.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of five year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in Paw Paw, Mich. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2001 RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: ‘Forest Fire’ is a cultivar of Hosta     hybrida. -   Parentage: Naturally occurring sport of Hosta ‘Sagae’ (not     patented). -   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—About 3 weeks in mid summer in Michigan.         -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial, clump-forming, upright             and mounded foliage on a medium-large sized plant.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 50 cm in height (excluding             flower scapes) and about 50 cm in width.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zones 3-8.         -   Culture.—Light shade to medium shade, moist soils of             moderate fertility.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed for ‘Forest Fire’.         -   Root description.—Freely branched, fleshy.         -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation is the preferred method             utilizing typical methods for Hosta, division is also             possible.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Broadly ovate when young, cordate when mature.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Cordate.         -   Leaf apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Leaf venation.—About 11 pairs of veins, campylodrome             pattern, impressed on upper surface and raised on lower             surface, color matches leaf coloration.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire, gently undulated.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Basal, radiate spirally from base.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper slightly glaucous, lower glaucous.         -   Leaf substance.—Average to above average when mature.         -   Leaf orientation.—Held almost upright in relation to             petioles.         -   Leaf variegation pattern.—Margins comprise about one fourth             of the leaf area, ranging from about 0.5 to 2 cm on mature             leaves, the centers are feathered into margins and an             intermediate area exists between centers and margins, also             in a feathered pattern. The new leaves emerging in summer             with margins that are yellow-green, which combine with the             mature leaves with creamy margins for a two-toned effect.         -   Leaf color.—Spring foliage, upper surface; centers 138A to             138B, margins 151B, intermediate area between the margins             and centers 146C. Spring foliage, lower surface; centers             191A to 191B, margins 151C, intermediate area 191C. Mature             summer foliage, upper surface; centers 137B, margins 8C to             8D, intermediate area 191C. Mature summer foliage, lower             surface; centers 191A to 191B, margins 8C to 8D,             intermediate area 191C and 144B. New summer foliage, upper             surface; centers 137B, margins N144A to N144C, intermediate             area 138B and 138C. New summer foliage, lower surface;             centers 191B, margins 145A, intermediate area not distinct.         -   Leaf size.—Mature leaves average About 21 cm in length,             about 21 cm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—About 5 to 6 per shoot (eye).         -   Petiole size.—About 30 cm in length, about 1 cm in width.         -   Petiole color.—Mature leaves (inner and outer surface); 144A             to 144B, narrow margins of N144D.         -   Petiole surface.—Sightly glaucous on inner surface, glabrous             on outer surface.         -   Petiole shape.—Sulcate. -   Flower scape description:     -   -   Scape shape.—Round, solid.         -   Scape number.—One per mature eye under normal growing             conditions.         -   Scape posture.—Held upright to about 70° from horizontal.         -   Scape size.—About 80 cm in length, about 1 cm in width.         -   Scape color.—137B.         -   Scape surface.—Glaucous.         -   Leaf Bracts.—About 3 per scape, centers are 137A in color,             margins are 4B in color, ovate in shape, glaucous, average             of 2 cm in length and 7 mm in width. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal racemes of funnel-shaped             flowers on elongated scapes.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 3 weeks from first             opening bloom to fading of last opening bloom, individual             blooms last about one day.         -   Flower shape.—Funnel-shaped.         -   Flower number.—About 40 per scape.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower bud shape.—Spathulate.         -   Flower bud size.—Up to about 4 cm in length and 1.7 cm in             diameter.         -   Flower bud color.—85C with markings of 85D.         -   Flower size.—About 5 cm in length and about 2.5 cm in             diameter.         -   Flower color.—85D.         -   Pedicels.—About 1.5 cm in length, 2 mm in diameter, 91D in             color.         -   Perianth features.—Comprised of 6 tepals, 3 interior and 3             exterior, overlapping in expanded region and fused in tube             region.         -   Tepal shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Tepal size.—About 5.5 cm in length, up to 1.5 cm in width.         -   Tepal color.—Outer and inner surface 85D with stripe of 155C             on inner surface.         -   Tepal texture.—Glabrous.         -   Floral bracts.—1 per flower, ovate in shape, glaucous             surface, 157C in color, about 1 cm in length and 8 mm in             width. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, about 6 cm in length, 155B in color,             stigma is 3-lobed and 155B in color, ovary is superior,             composed of 3 locules, 145C in color.         -   Androcoecium.—6 stamens, 8D in color, 5 to 6 cm in length, 1             mm in width, anthers are 3 mm in length, 1 mm in width,             attachment is versatile, 202A in color, dehiscence is             longitudinal, pollen is abundant and 8D in color.         -   Fruit.—Capsule, 3-chambered, about 6 cm in length, 6 mm in             width, 137C in color.         -   Seeds.—About 35 seeds per capsule, about 3 mm in length and             1.5 mm in width, 200A in color. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hosta plant named ‘Forest Fire’ as herein illustrated and described. 